Abstract
Due to its high rates of morbidity, disability and death, diabetes mellitus with its long-term consequences is regarded as a public global health issue. In any specific period, between 12 and 50 percent of people with diabetes suffer with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Motor nerve disorders and a loss of proprioception lead to impaired muscle action and imbalance. This study’s main target was to find whether targeted strategy specific training along with verbal and visual feedback improved the efficiency of learning motor tasks that are identical. Out of 30, 15 patients were allotted to interventional group and other 15 were allotted to control group by simple sequential sampling. Patients in control group underwent standard balance training usually given as conventionally, while the interventional group received targeted strategy specific balance training along with augmentation. They received treatment for 2 consecutive weeks; 5 sessions per week. Both groups were assessed using MiniBEST test, before and after 2 weeks of intervention. In within group analysis using Paired t-test, intervention group had significant improvement statistically in all four components of balance, whereas control group showed improvement only in reactive postural control, sensory orientation and anticipatory postural control. In between group analysis using independent t-test, except anticipatory postural control all the other three components of balance showed statistically significant improvement. Augmented Targeted Training is effective in improving balance in DN patients.
Keywords: Augmented Training, Balance, Diabetic Neuropathy, MiniBEST Test